Code is fun.

When I was 7, my grandad gave me a ZX81. It was one of the first mass-market personal computers, with 1 kilobyte of memory. It could only hold one page of code.

But boy, did I have fun coding with it.

That was when I experienced the four reasons why coding is fun.

Reason #0: Code Is a Game Of Exploration & Discovery

Coding is all about exploring what is possible and learning how things work. It's about discovering new possibilities, tools, and concepts. And then combining them to discover even more possibilities.

Learning is fun.

Reason #1: Code Is A Construction Game

Coding a program is like building something out of thin air and electrons. My first programs were simple games I spent hours playing on. I'm not much of a DIY person in real life, but I love building things with code.

Building is fun

Reason #2: Code Is A Strategy Game

Code is about formulating and implementing a method to overcome an obstacle: i.e. implementing a feature, solving a technical hurdle. It's about marshalling your resources, and devising different strategies of attacking the problem.

And strategy is fun.

Reason #3: Code Is A Puzzle Game

Coding is about solving mysteries. The mystery of why the code is not working, or the darker mystery of why it is working when it should not be. Following the clues and laying traps until the bug is fixed.

Solving mysteries is fun.

Code is my 9-5 AND my side hustle

Jane McGonigal says in Reality is Broken: "Games make us happy because they are hard work that we choose for ourselves, and it turns out that almost nothing makes us happier than good, hard work."

Why is code fun? Coding is a game. It is good hard work with a visible outcome. It provides a sense of achievement when you finally reach your destination.

And the nature of software means that journey is always beckoning.